Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention includes an electronic data flash memory card (memory card) comprising a top cover (TC), a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) and a bottom cover (BC). The TC includes a plurality of ultrasonic bonders, a plurality of breakaway tabs (tabs) and a connection device. The PCBA includes at least one memory integrated circuit (IC) and at least one controller IC. The BC includes a plurality of tabs. The TC and BC are ultrasonically bonded together, at least partially encasing the PCBA. The controller IC enables the memory card to communicate with an external host device (host) through the connection device to retrieve data files (files) from and transfer files to the host, and to store files on and retrieve files from the memory IC. The tabs are removable by the user by exerting pressure. Removal of the tabs locks or unlocks the memory card.

Abstract: A Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive includes a slim USB device having an end used to couple the USB flash drive to a host and an opposite end, and a swivel “strap shaped” metal cap having a circle cut out disposed on both cap legs. The snap coupling circle attachment allows the swivel cap to rotate substantially into a first and a second locking position and to rotate substantially 360 degrees about the z-axis of the USB device. The metal cap is generally in a locked position when the snap slot is aligned atop the snap lock tabs such that the protrusion snap ring is descended downward until the positioned flush against the snap lock groove. When unlocked the protrusion snap ring is raised up and rested upon the two snap lock tabs.

Abstract: Briefly, an embodiment of the present invention includes a portable flash memory drive with a simplified mechanism, based upon the resilient properties of the material used to create the parts, for reliable extension and retraction of the device's interface plug. The portable flash memory drive is comprised of a metal housing (or case), a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, PCB support, PCB assembly end cap, an upper, and lower housing, and in some embodiments a fingerprint sensor and/or key ring assembly. The press/push switch mechanism is located on either the side of the portable flash memory device, or the top; and relies upon the resilient properties of the material used to create the metal housing or end cap, to create a smooth, locking mechanism for the extension or retraction of the interface (i.e., USB or firewire) plug.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention a Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive with locking swivel cap includes a USB device, a swivel cap having a top swivel cap face and a bottom swivel cap face. The swivel cap is connectably attached to the USB device, four locking pins, two of which disposed on the top swivel cap face and two of which disposed on the bottom swivel cap face, two top locking grooves disposed on a top surface of the USB device, and two bottom locking grooves disposed on a bottom surface of the USB device, wherein the locking pins disposed on top swivel cap face coupled with the two top locking grooves and the locking pins disposed on the bottom swivel cap face couple with the two bottom locking grooves allowing the swivel cap to lock in fully open (180 degrees) and fully closed (0 degree). A USB connector is connected to the USB device to couple the USB flash drive to a host device.

Abstract: A low-profile Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) assembly includes a modular USB core component and an external case. The modular USB core component includes a PCBA in which all passive components and unpackaged IC chips are attached to a single side of a PCB opposite to the metal contacts. The IC chips (e.g., USB controller, flash memory) are attached to the PCB by wire bonding or other chip-on-board (COB) technique. The passive components are attached by conventional surface mount technology (SMT) techniques. A molded housing is then formed over the IC chips and passive components such that the device has a uniform thickness. The modular USB core component is then inserted or otherwise combined with an external plastic case to provide a USB assembly. An optional carrying case is disclosed.

Abstract: A Solid State Drive (SSD) device includes a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) defining rivet holes, and a support structure including parallel side frame rails defining rivet openings and support platforms for receiving and supporting the PCBA. Compression-mated rivet sets are used to connect the PCBA to the support structure, each rivet set including a female rivet portion and an associated male rivet portion. The PCBA is mounted onto the support structure such that the rivet holes are aligned with the rivet openings of the plurality of rivet openings, and then the rivet sets are mounted and secured using an automatic rivet tool such that each rivet set extends through an associated rivet hole/opening and fixedly engaged such that the PCBA and the support structure are held between end caps of the respective male and female rivet portions.

Abstract: A Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive includes a slim USB device having an end used to couple the USB flash drive to a host and an opposite end and a swivel cap having a side slit that serves as an opening into which the slim USB device travels horizontally, the side slit being disposed along a lateral side of the swivel cap. The USB flash drive also includes a USB device rivet placed into the slim USB device and the swivel cap to pivotally connect them at one of the ends of the slim USB device, so that the slim USB device is pivotally extendable outwardly from the side slit in a closed or open position.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention a portable and retractable flash drive with optional rotary deploying and retracting and fingerprint verification capability is disclosed to include a cylinder assembly. The cylinder assembly has a connector situated on one end, and a fingerprint sensor situated the surface. The portable and retractable flash drive with optional rotary deploying and retracting and fingerprint verification capability further includes a rotary tube at least partially enclosing the cylinder assembly for deploying the connector. An end tube is rotatably attached to one of the two ends of the rotary tube, and an end cap is attached to the other of the two ends of the rotary tube. The rotary tube is rotated relative to the end tube to slide the cylinder assembly back and forth inside the rotary tube to extend and retract the connector.

Abstract: A metal-wrapped flash-memory-drive device has an integrated slim Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) connector that fits into a standard USB socket. The slim USB connector has 4 metal contacts on a circuit board that is encapsulated by a plastic case. Components are mounted onto the circuit board. A metal wrap conforms to the general shape of a plastic sub-assembly of the plastic case and a plastic cover that enclose the circuit board. The metal wrap can be bent around the plastic sub-assembly in a forming process, or can be pre-formed into a metal tube that the plastic sub-assembly is inserted into. Alignment holes in the metal wrap can fit over plastic stubs on the plastic sub-assembly, or friction can hold the metal wrap to the plastic sub-assembly. The plastic cover and case can be bonded together by molding, ultrasonically, with adhesive films, or using snaps to form the plastic sub-assembly.

Abstract: An extended Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) connector plug and socket each have a pin substrate with one surface that supports the four metal contact pins for the standard USB interface. An extension of the pin substrate carries another 8 extension metal contact pins that mate when both the connector plug and socket are extended. The extension can be an increased length of the plug's and socket's pin substrate or a reverse side of the substrate. Standard USB connectors do not make contact with the extension metal contacts that are recessed, retracted by a mechanical switch, or on the extension of the socket's pin substrate that a standard USB connector cannot reach. Standard USB sockets do not make contact with the extension metal contacts because the extended connector's extension contacts are recessed, or on the extension of the connector pin substrate that does not fit inside a standard USB socket.

Abstract: A dual-personality card reader system supports both USB and micro-SD devices using a card reader and an extended 9-pin USB socket. The card reader includes a PCBA having four standard USB metal contact pads and several extended purpose contact pads disposed on an upper side, components and IC chips covered by a molded case on a lower side, a molded lead-frame connector mounted on the PCBA and including five forward-facing extended purpose pins and eight rear-facing micro-SD connector pins that communicate with the PCBA through the extended purpose contact pads, and a housing including a slot for receiving a micro-SD card such that it communicates with the PCBA through the micro-SD connector pins. The extended 9-pin USB socket includes standard USB contacts and extended use contacts that communicate with the PCBA through the standard USB metal contacts and forward-facing extended purpose pins. The PCBA includes dual-personality electronics for SD/USB communications.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention includes an extended memory card comprising memory circuitry, extended memory controller circuitry, a plurality of first format connection fingers, and a plurality of second format connection fingers. The memory circuitry is operable to store data files therein. The extended memory controller circuitry is operable to control data file storage and retrieval to and from the memory circuitry. The extended memory controller circuitry is further operable to control interface of the extended memory card through either the first format connection fingers or the second format connection fingers with a host device to transfer data files from the host device to be stored on the memory circuitry, and to retrieve data files from the memory circuitry to the host device.

Abstract: A portable USB device is described herein. According to one embodiment, a portable USB device includes a core unit having a USB plug connector coupled to one or more multi-level cell (MLC) flash memory devices and an MLC flash controller disposed therein. The device further includes a housing for enclosing the core unit. The device further includes a swivel cap having a top surface and a bottom surface by bending a flat panel into a U-shape block having an opening end, a close end, and two side-openings, where the top and bottom surfaces of the swivel cap include a rivet opening align with each other. The housing having the core unit therein is sandwiched by the swivel cap using a set of rivets through the rivet openings of the housings and the swivel cap. The core unit can be rotated with respect to the rivet set in and out of the swivel cap.

Abstract: A portable USB device with an improved configuration is described herein. According to one embodiment, a portable USB device includes a core unit having a USB plug connector coupled to one or more multi-level cell (MLC) flash memory devices and an MLC flash controller disposed therein. The portable USB device further includes a housing for enclosing the core unit, including a front end opening to allow the USB plug connector to be deployed. The portable USB device further includes a core unit carrier for carrying the core unit for deploying and retracting the core unit, including a slide button to allow a finger of a user to slide the USB plug connector of the core unit in and out of the housing via the front end opening of the housing.

Abstract: A Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) device has a USB plug that is centered over a center-line of a circuit board. The circuit board with flash memory and a USB flash controller has metal pads that a USB connector is soldered to. The USB connector has a rear step that is about half the height of the USB connector plug. Contacts on the rear step are soldered to the metal pads on the circuit board so that the USB connector is centered around the edge of the circuit board. The overall height of the flash device can be reduced since the bulky USB connector is not attached off-center to the circuit board, but is attached at the half-height rear step. Both the USB connector and the circuit board share the same center line, allowing a printed-circuit board assembly (PCBA) to be symmetric around the center line.

Abstract: A flash memory device includes one or two panels that are attached solely by a thermal bond adhesive to either a frame or integrated circuits (e.g., flash memory devices) disposed on a PCBA. The frame is disposed around the PCBA and supports peripheral edges of the panels. The thermal bond adhesive is either heat-activated or heat-cured, and is applied to either the memory devices, the frame or the panels, and then compressed between the panels and flash memory devices/frame using a fixture. The fixture is then passed through an oven to activate/cure the adhesive. An optional insulating layer is disposed between the panels and the ICs. An optional conforming coating layer is formed over the ICs for preventing oxidation of integrated circuit leads or soldering area, covering or protecting extreme temperature exposure either cold or hot, and waterproofing for certain military or industrial applications.

Abstract: An open-frame flash-memory drive has a printed-circuit board assembly (PCBA) with flash-memory chips, a controller chip, and a Serial AT-Attachment (SATA) connector soldered to it. The PCBA is only partially encased by left and right frames or by a U-shaped bracket frame. The frames have PCBA supports and guide posts that fit near edges of the PCBA. The frames do not cover the top and bottom of the PCBA, allowing chips on the PCBA to be ventilated by unblocked air flow. Screws that attach the PCBA to the frame have metal collars that ground the frame to the PCBA's ground plane. The screws form a current path to draw any electro-static-discharge (ESD) current off the frame and onto a PCBA ground. When the SATA connector is inserted into a host, the host ground sinks ESD currents collected by the open frame.

Abstract: Thin solid state drive (SSD) housing structures are described. According to one embodiment of the invention, a structure for housing an SSD includes a pair of brackets configured to support a PCBA of the SSD at either side of the PCBA via one or more ledges with corresponding fastener holes pre-configured thereon. The ledges are attached to inside surface of the brackets. Each of the brackets has a slab shape with a length and a height. The length is parallel to horizontal direction, while the height parallel to vertical. The ledges are located at mid-height and oriented substantially perpendicular to the brackets such that the PCBA is supported horizontally. In order to securely connect the PCBA with the brackets, a plurality of metal fasteners is used. The fasteners are placed through the fastener holes on the ledges and through corresponding alignment holes pre-configured on the PCBA.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, a single-sided memory card includes a single-sided memory card includes an injection- or transfer-molded base including the cavity, a thermal adhesive glue sheet position in the cavity, a PCBA secured inside the cavity of the single-sided memory card through the thermal adhesive glue sheet, and an adhesive label position on top of the PCBA, causing the PCBA to be protected and, after heating, the adhesive is cured binding the injection- or transfer-molded base.

Abstract: USB flash memory devices with an improved cap are described. According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a USB flash memory device comprises a flash memory drive, an improved cap, a cap plug and a wire loop. The flash memory drive comprises a core unit and an outer shell structure. The cap comprises a substantially slab-shaped hollow structure with rounded edges and rounded corners, having an open end and a closed end, two opposing side walls, a top surface and a bottom surface. The cap is configured to substantially encase the entire flash memory drive through the open end, when the flash memory drive is in a closed configuration. The cap plug is configured to plug into the cap, when the flash memory drive is in an open configuration. The wire loop is configured to link the flash memory drive and the cap plug together in one location.